The Iconic 426 Race Hemi Turns 50!

The Gen II 426 Race Hemi is turning 50 this year and Mopar is celebrating in a big way. A special product line is being released and marketing events are being planned to take place throughout 2014. Mopar has even unveiled a 50th anniversary Hemi logo (shown here) to honor the iconic engine, which made its debut in February 1964 by dominating the Daytona 500 in Richard Petty’s Plymouth, as well as the second, third, and fourth place cars. It was eventually transitioned into production vehicles as well.

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The logo created for the anniversary features an elephant, which references the engine’s moniker due to its size, strength, and power. Hemi Orange fills the logo as the trademark color which has always made the engine recognizable.

“Mopar is proud to mark the 50th anniversary of the introduction of the Gen II 426 HEMI, a revolutionary engine that inspired a long line of quality products in our brand’s portfolio,” said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC’s service, parts and customer-care brand. “The 426 HEMI is such a vital part of our heritage and a key ingredient in helping make Mopar what it is today. The success of the Race HEMI launched a unique brand of sought after muscle cars that had fans began to refer to as Mopars, and that is something we are very proud of.”

The original “Hemi,” or hemispherical combustion engine, was designed for passenger cars in 1951, making the 426 Hemi the second generation of the engine. It was built for one reason – to win races. The engine was built with two designations – “Circuit” or “Track” and “Acceleration” or “Drag.”

As well as owning 26 race victories within NASCAR in 1964 when the Hemi was rated at 400-horsepower, Don Garlits broke the 200mph barrier in the same year at an NHRA drag racing competition running a quarter-mile in 7.78 seconds. After the incredible 1964 season, NASCAR’s sanctioning body changed requirements and decided that all racing engines must be available in production vehicles. This knocked the Hemi from the competition for the 1965 season before it returned in 1966 (after the introduction of the 426 “Street” Hemi) to win countless races and numerous championships throughout the following years.

The A-990, a lighter drag racing package, debuted in 1965’s NHRA Super Stock Class under the hood of Dodge and Plymouth vehicles with altered wheelbases leading to the popularity of Funny Cars. Incredibly, a version of the engine continues to power every Funny Car and Top Fuel vehicle – even those badged by other manufacturers.

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The introduction of the Street Hemi meant that Chrysler no longer offered a specific drag racing engine, except in 1968 Dodge Darts and Plymouth Barracudas of which 75 of each were produced with 426 Race Hemi engines. The Hemi Challenge, in the Sportsman class at the prestigious NHRA U.S. Nationals in Indianapolis, has celebrated these special vehicles each year since 2001.

The 50th anniversary of the 426 Race Hemi has brought about the creation of the “Tom Hoover Sportsman Challenge,” which began at the start of the 2013 season, the winner being whoever ends the season with the most points at the wheel of a Chrysler Group vehicle in the Sportsman Stock or Super Stock classes.

Though the 426 Hemi hasn’t been offered in production cars since 1971, the legacy lives on in those Funny Car and Top Fuel machines, as well as new and classic vehicles with the help of current day products, including crate engines.

To honor the legacy and compliment the availability and development of those applications, Mopar is releasing Hemi merchandise through a unique line which will launch this month at Mopar.com. Clothing, decorative lighting, clocks, a pub table, stools, and so much more, all marked with the 50th anniversary logo, can be found by clicking “Get Mopar Gear.”

We are told there is even more to come throughout the year to celebrate the golden anniversary of the 426 Race Hemi, so stay tuned!